Locking closure cap



ug- 2, 1938 F. E. SCHNEIDER 2,125,819

LOCKING CLOSUHE .CAP I Filed sept. s', 1957 151,.; Y, If l, 11 v 25 f 3012 72 l f f 16s Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING CLOSURE CAP Fred E. Schneider, Grand Junction, Colo. ApplicationSeptember 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,382

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a locking closure cap for ller spouts ofgasoline tanks and the like, and one of the important objects of theinvention is the production of a simple and erlicient y" `locking capfor fuel tanks of automobiles and other vehicles, the locking meansbeing so constructed as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the capby unauthorized parties.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andefficient locking closure cap for the ller necks of fuel tanks and thelike, the parts of which are so constructed as to per- Amit one standardsize cover to be used for various sizes of ller necks, and which cap mayonly be removed by the insertion and manipulation of an authorized keyand the proper manipulation of the cap upon the neck of the tank.

Other objects and advantages of this invention `will appear throughoutthe following specication and claims.

In thedrawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ller neck and :a portion of a fueltank with certain parts in section, Vshowing the locking closure capmounted thereon.;

`Figure ,2 is a vertical sectional view taken on LO Figure l; 3 is Aahorizontal sectional view taken .on line :.3-3 0i .Figure 1;

Figure 4 `is a horizontal sectional View taken .-,online 4-4 of Figurel;

Figure '5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2with the anchoring members in an anchoring position;

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view with the anchoring members in areleased position;

Figure 7 is a perspective View showing the under face of the cap,certain parts being removed and the cover being broken away; `0 Figure 8is an inverted perspective view of the actuating plate for the anchoringmembers;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the locking plate;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the anchoring members;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the locking plate,showing a modied form of locking arm;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modied form of locking plate.

`By referring to the drawing, it vwill be seen that Iii designates thefiller neck of a fuel tank, such for instance, as a gasoline tank of anautomobile, this neck I0 being of therconventional 5 type having aninturned cap retaining ilange (Cl. 'Z0-172) I I of the usual character,which flange I I is provided with the usual pair of opposed notches I2.A locking closure cap I3 is adapted to fit over the neck I0 and this capI3 carries the usual gasket I4 which is adapted to fit between the 5upper end of the neck I0 and the lower face of the cap I3. The cap I3 ispreferably formed of cast material yand is preferably of a suitablediameter to t upon various sizes of tank necks, since the side flangesI5 thereof need not necesl0 sarily t snugly against the side of the neckI in order that the cap be retained upon the neck I8. The cap I3 isprovided with an integral inwardly extending barrel I'I and a collar I6which is concentrically mounted relative to the barrel 15 and of greaterlength than the barrel I'I, as shown in Figure 7. A conventional tumblerlock I8 of the barrel lock type known in some instances as .a'cylinderplug, is fitted in the barrel I'I and is held therein by an expansionsplit resilient ring I9 tting in suitable registering annular groovesformed in the lock I8 and the inner face of the barrel II. Thisstructure permits the lock I8 to be forced into the barrel II and thering I8 will snap into the groove formed inthe barrel II when a positionof registration is reached, thereby automatically locking the barrel orcylinder lock I8 within the barrel against unauthorized or accidentaldisplacement. Segmental blocks are cast as part of the cap I3 and spanthe distance between the collar I6 and the barrel I'I, these blocksbeing arranged in opposed relation and terminating short of the outerperiphery of the collar I6 to provide opposed notches 2I. Studs 22project from the under faces of the blocks 2|) which studs 22 extendthrough the apertures `23 formed in the locking plate 24. The headsofthese studs 22 may be upset to provide rivets for firmly holding thelocking plate 24 in engagement with the lower edge of the collar I6.This locking plate 24 is provided with a pair of opposed locking arms 25which arms 25 are adapted to extend or drop down through the notches I2in the flange II and by a quarter of a turn of the cap I3, the arms 25will lock under the flange II in a position at'right angles to thenotches I2, as shown in Figure 4. Y An actuating plate 2l is secured tothe lower end of the barrel or cylinder lock I8 in a suitable mannerwhereby the rotation of the lock I8 through the medium of a suitable keyinserted therein will rotate the plate 21 to the right or left. The lockI8 may be secured to the plate 2'I by means of the studs 28 passingthrough the apertures 28a formed in the plate 21. The ends of the studs28 may be upset to constitute rivets or any other desired securing meansmay be ernployed. The plate 21 is provided with a pair of opposed ears29 bent downwardly from the periphery thereof and these ears 29 extendthrough the arc-shaped slots 30 formed in the locking plate 24 to permitrotation of the plate 21.

A pair of anchoring members 3| are interposed between the Vplates 24 and2l, as shown in Figure "2, and each'anchoring member 3| is providedw'ith an aperture 32 at its inner end,'the ears 29 extending through theapertures 32 as well` as through the arc-shaped slots 30 in the plate24. The outer end of each anchoring mn'berl-! 'is provided with atransversely extending elongated slot 33 and the studs 22v carried bythe blocks'2' extend through these slots"33"and"limit rthe'inward andoutward movement of the anchoring members 3|. The outer locking ends`34of'the members 3I project`through thenotches 2| in the co1lar I6 whe nthe members 3| are' moved to ananchoring-position so as to extend intothe notche,s l 2 of the .flange l l, Shown in Fieure 5, and prevent; tnocap. l3 .fron1 beins rotated for removal by, an lunautl'l-orized party.The anchoring membersi a are; movedhto 'an anchoring position as.tnebarrel or cylinder look is rotated in. the direction Snombrlthearliow, in Figure y5. and as thehbarrel or cylinder, lock carryingthe .plate'l is rotated inthe lopposite,direction to the arrownshownFigurel 5, the outer ends 34 of theL lecking ngers A3| will be ldrawninwardly withinthegnotchesmZI ofthel c ollar IS and out of engagementwith, the notches I2 in the Iflange II, thereby permitting the` ,cap tobe removed. f .It .should be understood thetwnen Ytine, key K, sinserted orme cylinder lookin ,unlocked Aw ith.respect to theI cap I3sothat the cylinder lockjlismoVvableL-withj respect tothe cap I3,itishonly necessaryto rotate-fthecap I3 in .the 4direction of1emoval,orin `,a fraction( opposite tothat shown bythe arrow-inn'l'igurel*to cause automatic withdrawal` of the, anchoring members.3|., due. to the foottnat the inclined, Sides 3 |a oftheanchorinsrnembere 3|. Wi1 1 1 de Upon the s idewausottnenotohesi!2nite, which the members '3|` Contact and,jcause jtheanchoring members 3| to Vbegmoved inwardly out of the notches .I2- VIriligure.' 11, I' have'hown aniodiedhfofm Tof locking ar,m wherein*theouter end 4 3 of the arm 44 carried bythe plateY 24a is folded back uponthe same to a fuel tank neck with a flange of lessgdepth thanypsual,*Suchnchang'es of. this. character may be made, t .ac CQmmate the deviceto various standard-types of tanks and 'riecks.

,'As, shown' in Figure 12 ,I Vhave illustrated a modif-led type ofVlocking plate indicated bythe numeral1'35 which is'V somewhat similarto the structure shown 'in Figure 9 `with ltheexception V'that thelockinglgplate 35 isgprovidedI with'ananmillar. depending flange 36.Vformed integral-with f tlre plateg35. Guiding slots-39 areformed in theflange 36 through"which'tlfe'anchoring members 3| `mayextendl The; plateV35 is provided with apertures 40 for receiving studs 22Sand arc-shapedslots 4I' for receivingthe opposed; ears `29 ofthe plate..2'|. 'The"form, ofilocking 4plate shown -in 'Figure 9'may be'substituted for thattype shownY .Tin .Figure 12 if; and when desired,V and'ris providedfwitli" arms "25 'similar to' the arms `42.

" The locking platehaving flanges 36, as shown in Flgure"l2,fis"especially designed for useyin connection with Various sizedfiller necks, and in connection with a standard size cover. A1- thoughthe locking plate may be of various sizes diametrically, all theperforations in the cap are uniform and various sizes of locking plates,as well as anchoring members, may be assembled therefore in any one of anumber of standard sized covers. A further important feature of thepresent invention is the construction of the actuating plate illustratedand described above, and by employing these features just mentioned, thekey in the lock need be rotated only about one-eighth of a turn or less,to lock or unlock wthe device. In actual practice it has been found'that'byabare touch the anchoring members will slide outwardly veryeasily to the limit.

xAlthough I haver illustrated the device as being provided with akey-operated cylinder lock I8, it is obvious of course that thekey-operated lock may be replaced by a combination lock and the like,without vdeparting from the spirit -ofthe invention. Y' l From theforegoing description it will be seen thata Very simple and efficientlocking closure cap for filler spouts of gasoline tanks -or fuel tanks,and-the like, has been provided whereby the cap may bev locked insecuredposition upon the neck to prevent the cap from being removed by.i an unauthorized partly. The plate '-24 is fixed and secured tothe capI3 by means of the studs 22, and the cap vis dropped upon the.top of theneck in a position to allow the arms 25 to drop `through the notches-oropenings I2 in the lflange II. The cap is then rotated for aquarter of aturn to the position shown in Figure Lland the key K in the lock I8 isrotated to rotate the plate 2 in the direction of the arrow shown inFigure causing the ends 34 of the anchoring members 31| Vto bev extendedinto the notches I2 thereby' anchoring the cap against rotation, thearms 25 riding under the edge of the flange II Yof the neck- Illin theusual manner commonv to such caps and filler necks. The cap may beunlocked "by rotating the key Kin the opposite direction 4forwithdrawing the anchoring members 31a-to the position shown in Figure` 6vthereby allowing the cap I3 to berotated to ap0int wherethe arms 25 maybe liftdlup through the openings I2. An alternate method of removingthecapw|3-is merely. toinsert the key` Kw into the cylinder lockQIB torender the lock I8 movable lwith( vrespect .toA the' cap 'I3 4and rotateythe cap I3 in the ydirection of removal toicause.

the automaticl withdrawal'of` the anchoring .mem- -bers 3| to anunlocked position. It should be;5

understood that the 'arms 25 by fitting under' the edge ofthe flangel IAwill lock the cap in position against *removal v and the anchoringmembers 3| will anchor the cap against rotation.

-It should be understood that the cap is pro-6 vided with an inwardlyextending collar'JS of a standard diameter -tor fit snugly againstwtheinturned flange II of the neck I0, but the cap -I3 may be'of alargersize such as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 to t--varioussized necks"thereby allowing the deviceY to-be. applied to -vari- Rous typeso--standard-tanks by merely substituting the different sized lockingplates, suchfas theplatelI- orthe plate 35 and anchoringmember 3|.

I- Iavingdescribed the invention, Awhat I claim -as-'new is:-

1.-- A1ocking closuref'cap for a fuel tank which hasaflange-withppenings therein including: a flockfadaptedgto befoperatedfor lockingengagement with said'cap, a retaining member carried by saidcap and having ,means fitting in said opening and movable under saidflange for holding said cap against removal, an anchoring memberpivotally connected to said lock, and guide means carried by vsaid capand engaging said anchoring member `for limiting the swinging movementof said anchoring member, said anchoring member being movable `to andfrom an engaging position with respect to said opening in said flange assaid lock is rotated wth respect to said cap.

2. A locking closure cap for a fuel tank which has a flange withopenings therein including: a lock adapted to be operated by a key, aretaining member carried by said cap and having means fitting in saidopenings in said flange and movable under said flange for holding saidcap against removal, an actuating plate secured to the bottom of saidlock and having depending opposed ears, anchoring members contactingsaid actuating plate and having apertures at their inner ends forreceiving said ears, said anchoring members being slotted guide studscarried by said cap and passing through the slotted ends of saidanchoring members, the anchoring members being movable from a retractedto an extended position by rotation of said lock whereby saidV anchoringmembers may be moved to and from an engaging position with the openingsin said flange.

3. A locking closure cap for a fuel tank which has a flange with anopening therein including: a lock adapted to be operated for lockingengagement with said cap, retaining means on said cap` adapted to bereceived by said opening and fit under said flange When in an vengagingposition, an anchoring member carried by said cap and adapted to fit insaid opening in said flange and actuated by said lock for movement toand from an anchoring position with respect to said opening, and saidanchoring member having an inclined face for engagement with the side ofsaid opening in said flange whereby said anchoring member will beautomatically withdrawn from said opening in said flange when said lockis released and said cap is rotated in the direction for removal, saidlocking and anchoring means when in an engaging position providing meansfor holding said cap against rotation and removal.

4. A locking closure cap for a fuel tank which has a flange withopenings including: a lock adapted to be operated for locking engagementwith said cap, retaining means on said cap adapted to t in said openingsand under said flange when in an engaging position, a plurality ofanchoring members actuated by said lock and movable to and fromanchoring engagement with said openings, said anchoring membersradiating outwardly from said lock and having inclined edges contactingwith the sides of said openings in said flange for causing saidanchoring members to automatically move inwardly out of anchoringengagement with said openings as said cap is rotated in a direction forremoval after said lock is released, said retaining and anchoring meanswhen in an engaging position providing means for holding said capagainst rotation and removal.

5. A locking closure cap for a fuel tank which has an inturned flangewith openings therein including a cylinder lock adapted to be operatedby a key, a retaining member carried by said cap and havingflange-engaging means fitting in near their outer ends,`

. anchoring members said openings in said flange and movable under saidflange for holding said cap against removal, an actuating platesecuredto the bottom of said cylinder lock and having depending opposedears,` anchoring members contacting said actuating plate and havingapertures at their inner ends for receiving said ears, said anchoringmembers being slotted near their outer ends, guide studs carried by saidcap and passing through the slotted ends of said anchoring members forlimiting the outward swinging movement of the anchoring members, theanchoring members being movable fromA a retracted to an extendedposition by rotation of said cylinder lock whereby said anchoringmembers may be moved to and from an engaging position with respect tosaid openings in said inturned flange, said anchoring members beingfitted between said actuating plate and said retaining member andextending in a bias direction with respect to said flange-engagingmeans, and said retaining member having arc-shaped slots through which`said opposed ears extend. 6. A locking closure cap for a fuel tankwhich has an inturned flange with openings therein including a cylinderlock adapted to be operated by a key, and having flange-engaging meansfitting in said openings in said flange and movable under said flangefor `holding said cap against removal, an actuating plate secured to thebottom of said cylinder lock and having depending opposed ears,anchoring members contacting said actuating plate and having aperturesat their inner ends, guide studs carried by said cap and passing throughthe slotted ends of said anchoring members, for limiting the outwardswinging movement of the anchoring members, the anchoring members beingmovable from a retracted to an extended position by rotation of saidcylinder lock whereby said anchoring members may be moved to and from alocking position with respect to said openings in said inturned flange,said anchoring members being fitted between said actuating plate andsaid retaining plate and extending in a bias direction with respect tosaid flange-engaging means, said retaining plate having arc-shaped slotsthrough which said opposed ears extend, said retaining plate having adepending peripheral flange, and said depending peripheral flange havingslots formed therein through which said anchoring members extend.

7. A locking closure cap for a fuel tank which has an inturned flangewith openings therein including a cylinder lock adapted to be operatedby a key, a retaining member carried by said cap and havingflange-engaging arms fitting in said openings in said flange and movablethereunder for holding said cap against removal, operable by saidcylinder lock and movable to and from an engaging position with saidopenings of said flange for anchoring said cap against unauthorizedremoval, said cap having a depending integral barrel for receiving saidcylinder, locking means for locking said cylinder lock within saidbarrel, a depending collar concentrically mounted with respect to saidbarrel and spaced therefrom, blocks arranged in opposed relation betweensaid barrel and collar, and means for anchoring said anchoring member inengagement with said blocks.

8. A locking closure cap for a container which has a flange withopenings therein, including: retaining means on said cap adapted to berea retaining plate carried by said capV ceived by said openings andmoved under said ange byrotation oisad cap. to lock it, upon saidcontainer; anchoring- .means on` said cap,

movable inland outiwithrespect to the-,center thereof andadapted, in itsouter position', ytol'be received; by one ofsaid openings, saidanchoringv means being so` constructedfand arranged that.

1ing depending legs fitting in` said openings in said flange and movableunder said ange for holding said cap against; removal, an actuatingplate adapted for limiting the rotationofY the key secured to the bottomof said cylinder and having depending ears, anchoring members contactingsaid actuating plate, and having apertures at`V their inner ends forreceiving said ears, said anchoring members being slotted near theirouter ends, andguide studs carried by saidv cap ,zand passing throughthe slottedf ends of said anchoring members for limiting the outwardswinging movement of the anchoring members, the anchoring members beingmovable from a retracted to an extendedV position byY rotation of! "saidcylinder. l

l0. A locking closure constituting a 'cap for fuel tank filler Vneckswhichy have flanges with openings therein; includinga cylinder adaptedto be actuated by a key, a retaining member provided with extending armscarried by said cap, said arms ofv said retaining member adapted to tunder said. flange for holding said cap against removal, an actuatingplate adapted for limiting the rotating movement of the key secured tosaid cylinder and` having depending ears, anchoring membersv providedwith apertures for receiving said ears, said anchoring members beingslotted, guide st uds carried by said cap adapted to pass through saidslotted portions of said anchoring members for controlling the movementof said anchoring members, said anchoring members being movable from aretracted to an extended position by rotation of said cylinder, saidretainingv member provided with a depending peripheral flange havingopenings therein through which said anchoring members extend adapted t0.iit snugly within saidfillerl necks and adapted to lock said cap uponvarious sized ller necks against removal by unauthorized parties.

11'. A locking closure cap for a container which has a flange WithopeningsY therein, including: means on said cap adapted to be receivedby one of said openings and adapted to engage the ange after enteringthe opening and when the cap is rotated to prevent removal of said cap;anchoring means carried by said cap and adapted to be received by saidyopenings, said anchoring means having means for moving said anchoringmeans inwardly toward the center of said cap and out of said openingswhen said cap is rotated in one direction for removal; means foreiecting outward movement of said' anchoring means; and means forlocking said anchoring means in an outer position to anchor said capagainst rotation and' removal.

Y FRED E. SCHNEIDER.

